Friday, January 02, 2009

Facebook Apps

There are pros and cons to open APIs. Lots of people build helpful applications, but they often don't deliver what they promise. 

My previous entry refers to adding an RSS feed of this Blog to my Facebook page. The idea is to keep my friends informed with what I've posted on my blog and to generate links to it for SEO. You would think that it would be an easy thing to do, after all you are trying to add "really simple syndication" to through the API of one of the largest online properties. 

But a search through the apps fails to find a single RSS app that users actually say works. Very disappointing, if you ask me. 

If you know of one that does work, please comment and let me know. Thanks.

3 comments:

Tom Barnes said...

OK - I might have found one that works, just testing it at the moment. But there is a price to pay as the developer gets a lot of your page to promote themselves.

PaulP said...

Hi Tom,

You said FB don't have a decent RSS reader. I agree this was the case but only up to two months ago.

We have since launched a new FB app, RSS Connect:

http://www.new.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=23798139265

The best part of RSS Connect is that it updates Business Pages automatically at internals defined by the users. What I can say is that, if it is a well-formed RSS feed, RSS Connect will read it. Try it out yourself.

Also, we are already in the process of re-designing our Profile Tab based on feedbacks. Your constructive comments and suggestions are most welcome!

Paul P
RSS Connect

Tom Barnes said...

Hi PaulP. Yours was the one I found. Have been trying it and so far so good!